Outlook: The Eagles were one of the most improved teams in the ACC last season in Steve Addazio’s first year as their coach, but they’ve got their work cut out for them to maintain that forward momentum. Especially on offense.

In all, Addazio is faced with the task of replacing eight offensive starters.

About the only positive to that massive turnover is that it has allowed Addazio to diversify his game plan from last year’s one-dimensional power running attack. The key to an improved passing game is transfer QB Tyler Murphy, a fifth-year graduate student who started six games and completed 60.5 percent of his passes at Florida last season. Though he’ll have the benefit of an experienced offensive line, anchored by center Andy Gallik, virtually all of the Eagles’ other skill position players will be seeing their first significant playing time.

The situation on the defensive side of the ball is only slightly better. Both the line and linebacking corps have to be rebuilt, but thanks to the return of both starting corners and both starting safeties, BC can at least count on a solid secondary.

Alex Howell, a junior whose brother was a four-year punter at Virginia, is expected to handle both the kicking and punting chores.

Quotable quote: “There’s no question we lost productivity. We lost 17 starters. But I’m excited about the youth of our team. Now, youth usually means that you’re going to have some bumps in the road, but I like the future and I like where we’re headed.” Coach Steve Addazio.

Addazio

Projection: Addazio came in and immediately breathed some badly needed life into a program that was stuck in reverse, riding a late four-game winning streak to a 7-6 record and Independence Bowl berth. But before the Eagles can take another step forward, they may have to take a step back thanks to the huge turnover their roster has experienced and a difficult schedule.

Whatever success the Eagles are able to achieve will depend on the ability of its veteran offensive line to stay healthy, a smooth transition for transfer quarterback Murphy, the rapid development of young replacement players such as RB Myles Willis, a healthy return from injury by experienced contributors DE Mehdi Abdesmad and WR Bobby Swigert and a consistently solid performance from a game-tested secondary.